Stay Connected & Up-to-Date on our Email Lists:
The Bulletin: Each Friday morning we send an easily-readable digital version of the bulletin via email. Add yourself to the list and stay up-to-date as we establish our community.
Other Groups: Emails on an as-needed basis for those interested Adult Cathechesis, Women's Group, Men's Group, Young Adult group, etc. (Ususally about 2 per month.)
Current Announcements
No Envelopes Yet
Due to an interruption in the supply chain, we have not received our collection envelopes for this year. We hope to receive them soon but, in the meantime, feel free to put your donation in any envelope and write your name on it and include your regular envelope number if you know it. Thank you for your patience.
Church Unity Octave
The Octave was founded in 1908 by Fr. Paul Wattson, an Anglican priest who explained the devotion as a week of prayer for the unity of all under the authority of the Holy See. Fr. Wattson was received into the Church the following year, and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1910. The Octave was approved by Pope St. Pius X and promoted by Pope Benedict XV, who encouraged its celebration throughout the universal Church. You can use the prayers below to join in the Octave and follow each day’s intentions.
Antiphon. That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in Me and I in Thee; that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.
℣. I say unto thee, thou art Peter;
℟. And upon this rock I will build my Church.
January 18: The union of all Christians in the one true Faith and in the Church
January 19: The return of separated Eastern Christians to communion with the Holy See
January 20: The reconciliation of Anglicans with the Holy See
January 21: The reconciliation of European Protestants with the Holy See
January 22: That American Christians become one in union with the Chair of Peter
January 23: The restoration of lapsed Catholics to the sacramental life of the Church
January 24: That the Jewish people come into their inheritance in Jesus Christ
January 25: The missionary extension of Christ’s kingdom throughout the world
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst unto Thine Apostles: Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you; regard not our sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant unto her that peace and unity which are agreeable to Thy Will; Who livest and reignest ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Prayer to Our Lady, Help of Christians
Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God and our Mother, thou seest how the Catholic Faith is assailed by the devil and the world – that Faith in which we purpose, by the help of God, to live and die. Do thou, O Help of Christians, renew thy victories of old, for the salvation of thy children. To thee we entrust our firm purpose of never joining assemblies of heretics. Do thou, all holy, offer to thy Divine Son our resolutions, and obtain from Him the graces necessary for us to keep them unto the end. Bring consolation to the visible head of the Church, support the Catholic Episcopate, protect the clergy and the people who proclaim thee Queen. Hasten, by the power of thy prayers, the day when all nations shall be gathered around the Supreme Pastor. Amen.
Weekly Highlights for January 15th to 21st
Women's Group meeting Tuesday, January 17th, 6:30 to 8:30pm. The meeting will be at a parishioner's house. Please sign up for the Women's Group meeting emails to receive all the details.
Men's Group meeting Wednesday, January 18th 6:30 to 8:30pm. The Men's Group will be at Towne Place Suites by Marriott Naples, 5425 Juliet Blvd Naples, 34109.
Classes and Activities at Royal Palm Academy on Saturday January 21st at 9am.
Young Adult Group, Saturday January 21st 6 to 9pm. The meeting will be at a parishioner's clubhouse. Please sign up for the Young Adult Group emails to receive all the details.
Potluck at Royal Palm Academy on Sunday January 22nd from 10:30am to 1:30pm. The potluck will be outside as the gym is occupied. The Maidens will be selling baked goods to support their "nun-run."
Potluck on January 22nd
We will have our monthly parish potluck on January 22nd from 10:30 to 1:30pm at Royal Palm Academy. We will gather outside this time because there is an event in the gym at the same time. Please feel free to bring food to share and the Maidens of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament will be selling baked goods to support their "nun-run." Please join us for this time of fun and food.
Children's Schola Registration
The Corpus Christi children’s schola program has begun for the Spring semester. You may register your child(ren) online at https://www.corpuschristifssp.com/choir.
The boys’ and girls’ scholas will meet at Royal Palm Academy, Building J, on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Both choirs are directed by Miss Nicky Rutherford.
9:00 - 9:45am - Saint Hildegard Girls’ Schola (ages 8+) 9:45 - 10:30am - Saint Raphael’s Boys’ Schola (ages 8+)
The scholas learn a variety of sacred music including chant, hymns, and polyphony. During rehearsals, the singers develop ensemble skills and prepare music to sing for special occasions several times a semester.
There is a small registration fee per semester (Fall & Spring) so as to provide a stipend for our generous instructor for her wonderful service for your children and the whole community.
1st child: $60
2nd child: $50
Family maximum: $110 per semester
If your child is interested in joining a schola and you have any questions, please contact Miss Rutherford at [email protected] for more information.
Epiphany House Blessings
If you signed up for an Epiphany house blessing, either Fr. Adams or Fr. van Zee will get in touch with you to arrange a time for the blessing. The blessing can be given until February 2nd so the priest may not be able to get to you right away. There are many houses and few priests so please be patient.
Weekly Highlights January 1st to 7th
Thursday, January 5th, Mass will be at 4pm and the blessing of Epiphany water immediately after Mass.
Friday, January 6th, 4pm Mass and 5:15pm Solemn Mass of the Epiphany.
Saturday, January 7th, First Saturday devotions after 6:45am Mass. Activities at Royal Palm Academy at 9am.
Death of Pope Benedict XVI
It is with sorrow that the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter learned today, December 31, 2022, of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who was on several occasions a providential support for our community. As Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he was instrumental in the founding of the Fraternity and even visited its seminary in Wigratzbad for Holy Week in 1990. After his election to the chair of Peter, the personal contact continued, especially with the private audience he granted to his founders and the Superior General on July 6, 2009: it was for us the occasion to thank him for the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. A few months ago, from his place of retirement at the Mater Ecclesiæ monastery in the Vatican, he sent a private letter of encouragement to the Superior of the Fraternity of Saint Peter following the Motu Proprio Traditiones Custodes. The priests of the Fraternity, together with the faithful who are close to it, will be ardently praying for the repose of his soul. Requiem Masses with the absolution will be celebrated in the apostolates entrusted to the Fraternity in order to “pray to God that through the Sacrifice offered for the soul of his servant, the Sovereign Pontiff Benedict XVI, and after having raised him in this world to the papal office, he may be admitted into the celestial kingdom in the company of all the saints.” (secret of the Requiem Mass for a Sovereign Pontiff)
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
Merry Christmas!
The priests of Corpus Christ Chapel would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! May the joy of the Christ Child reign in your homes this Christmas season. Please continue to pray that by the merits of Christ born in a cave that we will soon be able to give Christ a new home by building a big beautiful Church where He will be honored, adored, and loved!
Blessing of Wine and Spirits in honor of St. John the Evangelist
On Tuesday, December 27th the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, there will be a special blessing of wine and spirits after the 5:15pm Mass at St. Agnes. Please bring your bottles with you to Mass and keep them with you in your pew. We will bless them and then pass through to sprinkle them with holy water.
Wine is blessed on this day because according to tradition, St. John was served poisoned wine but survived because he blessed the wine before he put it to his lips; the poison rose from the chalice in the shape of a serpent. In his happy memory, Catholics bring wine to church, which the priest blesses, turning it into a sacramental called the “Love of St. John.” Catholics use this sacramental wine for special occasions throughout the year and to give to the sick.
The wine is also a symbol of the great love of Christ that filled St. John’s heart with loyalty, courage and enthusiasm for his Master. He alone of all the apostles was not afraid to stay close to Jesus during the Passion and Crucifixion and he was the only Apostle not martyred. At least some of the wine blessed on the feast should be enjoyed on the day of the feast itself. When it is drunk on his Feast Day, we drink it before dinner as a toast to St. John. The Father of the house lifts his glass toward Mother and says, “I drink you the love of St. John.” The Mother replies “I thank you for the Love of St. John” and then turns to the oldest child, lifts his glass, and says, “I drink you the love of St. John…” –and on it goes down the line until each has been toasted. The wine may be drunk as is, out of the bottle, or may be prepared as in this recipe:
St. John’s Love (serves 8)1 quart red wine
3 whole cloves
1/16 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 two-inch cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup sugar
Pour the wine into a large saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients. Boil for 5 minutes (this pretty much evaporates all of the alcohol). Serve hot.
Here’s an English translation of the ritual for blessing the wine, translated from the 1962 Rituale Romanum:
BLESSING OF WINE on the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
At the end of the principal Mass on the feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, after the last Gospel, the priest, retaining all vestments except the maniple, blesses wine brought by the people. This is done in memory and in honor of St. John, who drank without any ill effects the poisoned wine offered to him by his enemies.
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
If it please you, Lord God, bless and consecrate this vessel of wine (or any other beverage) by the power of your right hand; and grant that, through the merits of St. John, apostle and evangelist, all your faithful who drink of it may find it a help and a protection. As the blessed John drank the poisoned potion without any ill effects, so may all who today drink the blessed wine in his honor be delivered from poisoning and similar harmful things. And as they offer themselves body and soul to you, may they obtain pardon of all their sins; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Lord, bless this creature drink, so that it may be a health- giving medicine to all who use it; and grant by your grace that all who taste of it may enjoy bodily and spiritual health in calling on your holy name; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
May the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come on this wine (or any other beverage) and remain always.
All: Amen.
It is sprinkled with holy water. If the blessing is given privately outside of Mass, the priest is vested in surplice and stole and performs the ceremony as given above.